Harness frame



Aug. 22, 1939. J. E. BLANCHARD HARNESS FRAME Filed Jan. 10, 1939 Jose/vi) tTB/aWcia/z? a, war

Patented Aug. 22, 1939 HARNE S S FRAME Joseph E. Blanchard, Millbury, Mass, assignor to Watson-Williams Manufacturing Company, Millbury, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application January 10, 1939, Serial No. 250.177

2 Claims.

This invention relates to looms and more particularly to harness frames in which wire or steel heddles are mounted. Such frames are associated with the harness motion and are raised and 5 lowered to shift the warp threads and to thereby form the pattern.

It is customary to mount the heddles slidably on heddle bars which extend through and are secured in the side members of the harness frames. In wide frames, the heddle bars are also secured to the top or bottom frame members by center posts or studs, inserted in said members at intermediate points in the width of the frame.

During the weaving operation, the heddles tend to slide lengthwise of the heddle bars to equalize the spacing of the warp threads and to achieve such positions that each warp thread extends in a substantially direct path from the warp beam to its reed space on the lay. The center posts, however, cause more or less interference with this free sliding and spacing of the heddles, and in fine goods perceptible variations in the appearance of the cloth surface may result from such interference.

In order to avoid these defects, it has been proposed that double heddle bars be used, with each extra or inner bar connected to a regular heddle bar by spaced clips which are themselves freely slidable within limits along both bars. These clips can thus move along the bars with the heddles and will not prevent sliding of the heddles to equalized positions.

It is the general object of my invention to provide improved means for thus connecting the extra or inner heddle bars to the regular heddle bars.

A further object is to provide connecting members or clips for this purpose which are of such construction that they may be easily removed and replaced if broken or injured, and without necessitating removal of the heddles from their supporting bars.

My invention further relates to arrangements and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

A preferred form of my invention is shown in the drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a harness frame embodying my improvements;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged partial front elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation, taken along the line 3-3 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of one of my improved clips in open position; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation, taken along the line 55 in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, I have shown a heddle frame comprising top and bottom frame members It] and II, side frame members l2, and heddle bars l4 extending through the side frame members l2 and secured in position therein.

The heddle bars M are also secured to the frame members l0 and I I by a plurality of center posts 16 which are commonly screwed into the frame members and which are slotted or recessed to receive the heddle bars.

I have also shown a plurality of wire or steel heddles H threaded on extra or inner heddle bars 20 and on which bars; they are freely slidable. The bars 20 are positioned between the side members [2 and are connected to the bars I4 by a plurality of connecting members or clips C.

Each clip 0 comprises right and left-hand members 39 and 3!, each of which has a hookshaped end 32 and an inwardly slotted end 33. The members 39 and 3| are pivoted together at 35 and are manually movable from the open position shown in Fig. 4 to the closed position shown in Fig. 3 or 5.

The clips C are opened and slipped over one of the heddle bars l4 and are then swung to the closed position shown in Fig. 3 or 5, thus securely locking the clips in slidable relation to the heddle bar. When in closed position, the inwardly slotted ends 33 are aligned and may be hooked in slidable relation over the extra or inner heddle bar 20. When the bar 20 is thus positioned in the slotted ends, it is obvious that no clip C can swing open or become detached from its heddle bar [4.

The clips for the lower part of the frame, as shown in Fig. 5, are identical with the clips for the upper part of the frame but are inverted when in use.

With this construction, the clips C, being free to slide on both bars 14 and 29, will not interfere with sidewise movement of the heddles H but will allow the heddles to assume an equalized spacing in accordance with the straight-line paths of the warp threads.

Furthermore, it will be seen that a broken or injured clip can be easily removed by forcing the bar 20 out of the slotted ends 33 and then swinging the members 30 and 3| apart to open position, thereby releasing them from the bar l4.

The clips are preferably formed from relatively thin sheet steel, so that they are of limited thickness and do not occupy any substantial space along the bars 20 and between the heddles H.

The feature of convenient removal and replacement, combined with positive locking of the clips when in use, has been found very advantageous, as the removal and replacement of a broken clip which is threaded on either or both heddle bars is quite laborious and consumes an excessive amount of time, during which the loom must remain idle.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than as set forth in the claims, but what I claim is 1. In a loom, a clip for connecting double heddle bars comprising two rigid pivoted members cooperating when in operative position to form a closed recess at one end to receive one heddle bar and each having a slot at the other end open at one side toward the pivot,'said slotted ends when aligned being open at the same side to recive a second heddle bar when said members are in operative position, said members being freely slidable along both bars and said clip being locked on said first bar by said second bar when said second bar is seated in said aligned slots.

2. In a loom, a clip for connecting double heddle bars comprising right and left-hand members pivoted together intermediate their ends and each having one hook-shaped end and one end slotted inwardly and open toward the pivot, said members when assembled and in closed 0perative position having the hook-shaped ends associated but reversed to form a closed recess for one bar and having the slotted members associated and aligned to provide a slot open toward the pivot and at one side to receive the other bar.

JOSEPH E. BLANCHARD. 

